NavList:

On the 15 July George wrote about the (presumed) incompetence of one "Antonia Nicholson, 32", skipper of the "Gipsy Moth IV, which hit a reef ":

"It reinforces my prejudice, that such responsibilities
should be given to grizzled old salts, and not to young ladies, no
matter how many certificates they have collected; incorrect though it
may be to say so or even to think so."

If only 'grizzled old salts', presumably of the male persuasion, could be trusted not to make mistakes.

An example of this is that of Captain Edward John Smith, who gained his first ship's command in 1887, at the age of 37. He went on to command the first Republic, the Coptic, Majestic, Baltic, Adriatic and Olympic; all of the White Star line. During the Boer War at the turn of the century he commanded troopships to and from the Cape of Good Hope.

"As he rose in seniority Smith gained a reputation amongst passengers and crew for quiet flamboyance. Some passengers would only sail the Atlantic in a ship commanded by him. After he became commodore of the White Star fleet in 1904, it became routine for Smith to command the line's newest ships on their maiden voyages. It was therefore no surprise that Smith took Titanic in her maiden voyage in April 1912."

http://www.webtitanic.net/framecaptain.html

If ever there was a 'grizzled old salt' of wide experience and presumed competence it was Captain Smith.

"After departure at 12:00 the wash from the propeller caused the laid-up New York to break from her moorings and swing towards the Titanic. Quick action from Smith helped to avert a premature end to the maiden voyage."

The rest is fairly well-known. It seems to be commonly accepted that it was a mistake of judgement on Smith's part to continue at speed at night in conditions where icebergs could be expected. So much for a lifetime of male seafaring experience – begun by Smith at the age of 13. He was 62 and on the verge of retirement when he shepherded the Titanic out of Southampton en route for New York. This command had already been planned to be his last, though not in the circumstances that ensured.  

I suspect that Antonia Nicholson, similarly, was chosen as skipper of the Gipsy Moth IV because she seemed the best person for that role; with all the qualifications, experience and competence to encourage such trust. And she did take this yacht the best part of half way around the globe before coming to grief in the Tuamotus, like so many before her. Most of whom, funnily enough, were men. Quite a few of whom could be described as grizzled.

If command can't be entrusted to " young ladies, no matter how many certificates they have collected"  and even "grizzled old salts " can get it wrong too, unfortunately, it does leave us with a practical problem.

Just who can we entrust with a boat's command? And would a critic airing his prejudices from the comfort of his armchair be in a position to know?